CM summons special session of assembly to counter RLD

The State Cabinet at an emergency meeting in Lucknow on Tuesday night decided to summon special session of the state assembly on January 15 to discuss the prevailing political situation. While authorising the chief minister to take appropriate decision in the light of resignations of three ministers of Rashtriya Lok Dal, the Cabinet also cancelled its decision of January 3 to prorogue the House.

The Cabinet at its January 3 meeting had prorogued the House and sent the proposal to the Governor TV Rajeswar for approval.

However the Governor's notification proroguing the House was yet to be issued. The Governor was in Delhi on Tuesady.

Political observers in Lucknow feel that in view of departure of RLD from the alliance the chief minister could take fresh vote of trust to claim majority on the floor of the House. The chief minister had taken vote of trust in December before the House was adjourned sine die.

Briefly talking to newsmen after the Cabinet, Yadav refuted the charge of RLD president Chaudhury Ajit Singh that the government had ignored the interest of sugarcane farmers in the state.

The chief minister said Ajit Singh had written him three letters last months about the support price of sugarcane. Yadav said he had replied to all the letters. Earlier in the day while snapping ties with the Samajwadi Party, Ajit Singh had said that the chief minister even did not acknowledged these letters.

The chief minister said Cabinet discussed the political situation arising out of the breaking of relations with the RLD and had authorised him to take decision.

He said the government had taken adequate measures for the welfare of sugarcane farmers in the state. While leaving the government, Ajit Singh said that resentment was brewing among farmers over low support price.

The Cabinet meeting lasted more than one hour. There was flurry of activity at the chief minister secretariat tonight as the ministers ushered into the Cabinet room for the meeting.